Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 143 Entries. Sunday, January 18 View Page workin the new patch some more.. its 50'x90' Sunday, January 18 View Page Yet more proof that I have the pumpkin sickness bad. Picked this Kubota up yesterday. Now I need to start building a 3 point boom pole for moving giant pumpkins. Saturday, January 31 View Page Patch is almost ready. Saturday, January 31 View Page closerlook sugarsoil & 2 year old manure compost side Saturday, January 31 View Page closer look - 3-5 month old manure was put on this side 6" thick then tilled in multiple times Monday, March 9 View Page 819.5 Van Hook (932 Tanner x 998 Pukos) 2nd year growing this seed. Using it as a measuring stick to see if I've improved. Monday, March 9 View Page 275 Van Hook 06 (1443 Palmer x 1407 Wolf). Pictures was taken yesterday. Today the cot leaves measure 6.5" across. These are 4" cow pots. Monday, March 9 View Page 406 Gonsoulin (1018 Van Hook x 566.6 Van Hook) Monday, March 9 View Page 408 Gonsoulin (819.5 Van Hook x 620 Boyton). Tuesday, March 10 View Page Put the 275 Van Hook and 819.5 Van Hook in the main patch today. Put the 408 and 406 Gonsoulin in a side patch. Also, started with walking boards and hoop houses. Tuesday, March 10 View Page 819.5 Van Hook in hoop house. I'm using these hoop houses mostly too protect the plant from wind and critters while its small. Today it was in the 80s outside so that isn't a problem at the moment. We may get one more late frost like last year. Last year I wasnt fully prepared for the late frost and there was lots of damage. Tuesday, March 10 View Page 275 Van Hook in hoop house. Tuesday, March 10 View Page 406 Gonsoulin (front) and 408 Gonsoulin (back). Tuesday, March 10 View Page This is my new friend. I dont know her name yet but she always seems too show up when I'm workin outside. She comes around every day for a few hours too chase the rabbits in one acre of woods right next too the patch. I have seen her catch 2 rabbits so far! Good dog! Tuesday, March 17 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Tuesday, March 17 View Page 275 Van Hook Tuesday, March 17 View Page 2nd batch of plants will be going in the patch tommorow. Here is the 907 Van Hook 07(1231 Pukos x 998 Pukos) Tuesday, March 17 View Page 566.5 Van Hook (1407 Wolf x 1450 Wallace) Tuesday, March 17 View Page 1472.5 Werner 08 (985 Werner x 998.6 Pukos) Tuesday, March 17 View Page 639 Pugh (500 Wallace x 1068 Wallace) This is my 2nd try this year at this seed. My first one only put a root out but never came up. My three 639 seeds were in one of the rooms that the tree fell on last year and there was some water that got too them. I am lucky too get one too come up at all. Wednesday, March 18 View Page 907 Van Hook Wednesday, March 18 View Page 4 more plants put in the patch today. Wednesday, March 18 View Page 907 Van Hook Wednesday, March 18 View Page 639 Pugh Wednesday, March 18 View Page 1472.5 Werner Wednesday, March 18 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Thursday, March 26 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Any ideas as too why these 2 leaves are damaged like this? Thursday, March 26 View Page 275 Van Hook Yellow dots on some of the leaves. Any ideas? I'm going to spray with a fungicide as soon as the weather clears up (looks like its gonna take a few days). Thursday, March 26 View Page 275 Van Hook Better picture of the yellow dots. Thursday, March 26 View Page 907 Van Hook Thursday, March 26 View Page 639 Pugh I think we got about 3-4" of rain last night and it was comming down really hard. This plant is in a hoop house with a small hole cut in the side of it for ventilation. It still got lots of dirt splatter. Thursday, March 26 View Page 1472.5 Werner Thursday, March 26 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Thursday, March 26 View Page 406 and 408 Gonsoulin I just noticed from this picture that the plant markers are next too the wrong plants! The 408 is actually the closer plant and the 406 is the farther one. Saturday, April 4 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Vine starting too lean wrong way. Gonna have to put some sticks too coax it in the correct direction. Saturday, April 4 View Page 907 Van Hook. Tons of rain and not alot of sunshine in the last week has affected some of the smaller plants. Should pick up the pace soon. Saturday, April 4 View Page 275 Van Hook This plant is about too really take off. 2.5' long from stump too tip of vine so far. I need to remove the hoop house but it is supposed too be in the 30's Tuesday night. Saturday, April 4 View Page First female of the year. A whooping 2 feet from the stump on the 275. Will be removed shortly. Saturday, April 4 View Page 639 Pugh Saturday, April 4 View Page 1472.5 Werner This plant is really doing well despite the poor weather conditions of the last week. Saturday, April 4 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Looking good. Saturday, April 4 View Page 408 Gonsoulin (close) Time too start aiming it in the right direction since it is leaning the wrong way. 406 Gonsoulin (far) Saturday, April 4 View Page 406 Gonsoulin (close) 408 Gonsoulin (far) These 2 plants are doing much better than expected. They are in an area that was only amended with 13-13-13 fertilizer and some lime. Currently they are keeping pace with the plants in the main patch. However, I dont expect them too be able too keep up with the rest when the pumkins show up. Tuesday, April 14 View Page Hope this lil guy stays around too eat the mice. He was about 2.5-3' long. You can see the skin it just shead right above him in the picture. Tuesday, April 14 View Page Corn is comming up good. Looks like its time to make a pass with the stirrupe hoe! Tuesday, April 14 View Page 819.5 Van Hook 40 degree weather combined with wind last week ruined a few of the leaves.. I removed them. Plant is till growing fine. It should recover. Tuesday, April 14 View Page 275 Van Hook Had a female bloom today. Too early too pollinate thou. Tuesday, April 14 View Page Here is the female on the 275 Van Hook. The stem is connected too the sidevine for a couple inches. I wonder if this will happen with all the females on this plant? Tuesday, April 14 View Page 907 Van Hook Tuesday, April 14 View Page 639 Pugh Tuesday, April 14 View Page 1472.5 Werner Tuesday, April 14 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Tuesday, April 14 View Page 408 Gonsoulin You can see my "water tank" in the back ground(it holds around 7000 galons). Im about too declare war on these weeds! Tuesday, April 14 View Page 406 Gonsoulin This is currently my largest plant. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Tuesday, April 28 View Page 1087 Van Hook put in patch on April 24th Tuesday, April 28 View Page 907 Van Hook decided too lay down after growing almost 3' tall. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 498 Van Hook (1385 Jutras X 1450 Wallace) put in patch on April 24. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 275 Van Hook main is 12' long and side vines are starting too really take off. It has continued too produce flowers, male and female, with stems that are fused too the vine. It seems about 1 out of 10 flowers have the problem. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 639 Pugh may turn out to be the ugly duckling in the patch. Its looking very nice considering where it started. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 566.5 Van Hook bad picture but plant looks good. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 1472.5 Werner good lookin plant. Tuesday, April 28 View Page 406 Gonsoulin Here you can see that no round up has been applied too the weeds. Compared too the main patch which has had 1 light application of round up when plants were still covered. If the wind doesnt let up soon Ill have too pass the tiller in this patch. Sunday, May 3 View Page Here is the patch today after an afternoon shower. The weeds have been sprayed again a few days ago. They should die out in the next week or 2. Its a constant battle with this first year patch. I still need too finish 2/3 of the patch with t-tape. Sunday, May 3 View Page Here is the patch from the opposite side. Sunday, May 3 View Page 275 Van Hook Main is about 15' long and grew about 1' last night. Sunday, May 3 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Sunday, May 3 View Page 639 Pugh Sunday, May 3 View Page 1472.5 Werner The 1472.5 Werner, 566.5 Van Hook, and 639 Pugh all have main vines about 9-10' long. Sunday, May 3 View Page Here is a female on the 275 Van Hook at 12' out. It should open in the morning. Saturday, May 9 View Page 1st pollination on the 275. This one will be culled soon. 8 days old and 20" cir. Saturday, May 9 View Page 2nd Pollination on 275 Van Hook. The cross on this is 275 Van Hook(1443 Palmer x 1407 Wolf) x 566.5 Van Hook(1407 Wolf x 1450 Wallace). This one is 5 days old and may be the one I keep. Monday, May 11 View Page 275 Van Hook - main vine is around 20' long. Started to cull the first pumpkin today. It measured 26" cir today on 10 DAP. Monday, May 11 View Page Here is the 2nd pumpkin 8 DAP. 275 Van Hook x 566.5 Van Hook. Today it has a 21" cir. This will probaby be the one that I keep. Monday, May 11 View Page 639 Pugh (500 Wallace x 1068 Wallace) - pollinated 1st female today - cross is 639 Pugh x 1472.5 Werner This plant has the best spacing between all the vines and leaves. The leave are not as tall or as big as the other plants yet. Monday, May 11 View Page 566.5 Van Hook - pollinated with 1472.5 Werner today. Best plant in the patch so far, after the 275. Monday, May 11 View Page 1472.5 Werner 1st pollination didnt take. Next female on the main vine had stem broken by the leaf before it opened. Next chance to pollinate is at the tip of the vine 17' out on main, probably 3-4 days away. Good looking plant so far. Monday, May 11 View Page 498 Van Hook 2008 (1385 Jutras x 1450 Wallace) Do the math on that cross! Wednesday, May 13 View Page Found this Texas Rat Snake sitting on top of my hand truck in my shop. Caught him for the picture then released him next too the shop. I'd much rather have this gal around instead of a bunch of rodents. Thursday, May 14 View Page 275 Van Hook x 566.5 Van Hook 10 DAP 35.5" Cir. Tuesday, May 19 View Page 275 Van Hook 15 DAP cir = 63" OTT = 146" Tuesday, May 19 View Page 275 Van Hook Tuesday, May 19 View Page front left 819.5 Van Hook front right 907 Van Hook Reguardless of adding calcium nitrate and 13-13-13 they are weeks behind the other plants. This side of the patch had manure with wood chips.. The wood chips are still breaking down so they are robbing the nitrogen very fast. Lesson learned. Tuesday, May 19 View Page 275 Van Hook only in the 70s when the pictures were taken today. Gonna have too get that shade cloth up before it gets hot! Tuesday, May 19 View Page 1472.5 Werner I think the pollination on this one took 2 days ago. Cross is 1472.5 Werner x 275 Van Hook. Now I need to dedicate an hour or so too removing the weeds in this section. Tuesday, May 19 View Page 639 Pugh I'm having a difficult time getting a pollination to succeed on the main vine. 2 strikes so far.... There are a few that have taken on side vines however. Tuesday, May 19 View Page 566.5 Van Hook Plant is still looking good. First pollination attempt aborted after 3 days. Gonna try again 1 or 2 days. Sunday, May 24 View Page 275 Van Hook Day 20 Cir. 89" OTT 203" est. 187 lbs Sunday, May 24 View Page Put up the first shade cloth yesterday. It is 20'x 48' and is a 30%. I have 2 more too put up but I want too make sure this meathod will hold first. Sunday, May 24 View Page Another angle of shade cloth. Wednesday, June 3 View Page 275 Van Hook Day 30 cir 126 ott 282 est. 477 pounds Wednesday, June 3 View Page 275 Van Hook Plant is still looking great. Wednesday, June 3 View Page 819.5 Van Hook (x 1472.5 Werner) Day 20 cir 72 ott 177 est. 128 pounds Wednesday, June 3 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Plant is healthy but its in the side of the patch with wood chips so its small. Wednesday, June 3 View Page 275 Van Hook top view Monday, June 8 View Page 275 Van Hook Day 35 Cir. 138 OTT 305 est. 600 pounds Today it passed the Louisiana state record of 578 in estimated wieght. Hopefully it holds together for another month or 2 and makes it too the scale. Monday, June 8 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Day 25 Cir. 92 OTT 219 est. 231 pounds Wednesday, June 10 View Page 275 Van Hook x 566.5 Van Hook Pumpkin split on 2 spots on top today on day 37. It was cut from vine and removed from patch too be wieghed. When lifted the bottem revealed a huge split over a foot long. I think this was the reason it went from gaining 33 pounds a day on day 30 too 24 pounds a day on day 31. Wednesday, June 10 View Page Larger split on the top. Wednesday, June 10 View Page just realized that I forgot too put the pumpkins info for the 275 VH which split 275 Van Hook x 566.5 Van Hook Day 37 cir. - 143" ott - 310 est. 629 actual weight 673 6.9% heavy Thursday, June 11 View Page Last picture before cutting it open today. Thursday, June 11 View Page Huge split on bottem. Thursday, June 11 View Page After seeing the crosscut I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. Friday, June 12 View Page 819.5 Van Hook cir 102 ott 242 est. 307 pounds currently gaining 19 per day Friday, June 12 View Page 907 Van Hook cir. 96 ott 241 est. 303 pounds currently gaining 23.5 pounds per day Friday, June 12 View Page 566.5 Van Hook cir. 107 ott 234 est. 279 pounds currently gaining 19.5 per day Friday, June 12 View Page 1472.5 Werner cir. 83 ott 182 est. 138 pounds currently gaining 16.5 per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Day 41 cc 120 ott 281 est. 472 pounds gaining about 10.5 pounds per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 819.5 Van Hook Side view day 41 I am aware of the weed problem. :P Wednesday, June 24 View Page 907 Van Hook est. day 40 cc 120 ott 291 est. 523 pounds growing about 16.25 pounds per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 907 Van Hook Side Wednesday, June 24 View Page 566.5 Van Hook est. day 42 cc 128 ott 279 est. 463 pounds growing about 10.5 pounds per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 566.5 Van Hook side Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1472.5 Werner est. day 32 cc 114 ott 250 est. 337 pounds gaining about 16.25 pounds per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1472.5 Werner side Wednesday, June 24 View Page 498 Van Hook day 17 cc 66 ott 157 est. 92 pounds gaining about 15 pounds per day Wednesday, June 24 View Page 498 Van Hook side Friday, July 3 View Page 819.5 Van Hook hasn't grown in 2 days. There is a quarter size soft spot on a sunburn also. Time too take it too the scale. Friday, July 3 View Page OTT was 293 for an estimate of 533 pounds. Time for the moment of truth! Will it go lite? Will it go heavy? Friday, July 3 View Page Placed on scale and straps are removed.... Friday, July 3 View Page 533 pounds! Exactly too chart! 45 pounds shy of the state record of 578. Thats a new personal best too make it too the scale intact. I think that pb should last at least a good week or 2. My 907 Van Hook is taping at over 600 and gaining about 9 pounds a day. Monday, July 6 View Page 907 Van Hook This is the bottem of the pumpkin which was about too be put on the scale. Lucky it was in good shape.... when I lifted the pumpkin out of the patch there was a mouse nest under it. I was afraid that it might have dug into the pumpkin... glad that it didnt. Monday, July 6 View Page Now the 584 Gonsoulin. This pumpkin beat the Louisiana state record by 6 pounds... which is kinda lame. I would much rather have beat it by at least 50 or 100 pounds. There were a good number of witnesses, one of which has a doc. in agriculture. He was there too inspect the pumpkin and too be an official witness. Monday, July 6 View Page 584 Gonsoulin (907 Van Hook x open) cc 128" ott 306 est. 606 pounds actual 584 pounds 3.6% light Monday, July 6 View Page 584 Gonsoulin (907 Van Hook x open) Monday, July 6 View Page 584 Gonsoulin Thursday, July 23 View Page Today I weighed my last 3 pumpkins. From left to right... 1472.5 Werner, 498 Van Hook, and 566.5 Van Hook. Thursday, July 23 View Page 498 Van Hook x 275 Van Hook 45 days old when harvested (yesterday) Cir. - 106" OTT - 265 est. 398 pounds actual - 412 pounds 3.5% heavy Thursday, July 23 View Page 489 Van Hook on scale Thursday, July 23 View Page 1472.5 Werner x open 60 days old harvested yesterday Cir. - 131" OTT - 288 est. 507 pounds actual weight (without the hat of course) 571 pounds Thursday, July 23 View Page 571 Gonsoulin Thursday, July 23 View Page 566.5 Van Hook x open 70 days old when harvested yesterday cir. - 141" OTT - 306 est. - 606 pounds actual weight - 828 pounds 36.6% HEAVY! WOW! beat my previous state record of 584 by 244 pounds and beat the prior record of 578 by 250 pounds. Thats a difference that I can feel good about! Thursday, July 23 View Page forgot the picture! weight was taken without the hat on the scale of course Thursday, July 23 View Page I was dumbfounded when the scale kept climbing over the 600-620 that I was expecting. I had to check everything and have them rezero it too do it again too make sure. It was 828 both times. I'll post pictures of the cross cuts when I open it up next week. Thursday, July 23 View Page It is a low and wide shaped pumpkin. It really doesnt look like it should weight what it does. I'm thinking the crosscut will tell the story when I open it up. Thursday, July 23 View Page A local county agent was kind enough too show up again too inspect the pumpkin and witness the weighing. Sunday, August 2 View Page I was using the top knife too cut open all my pumpkins. The blade on it is about 7" long. Knowing that my 828 Gonsoulin was 36.6% heavy I figured I would need something bigger. So I picked up a bigger blade too cut it open with! Sunday, August 2 View Page Here is the side too side cross cut of the 828 Gonsoulin. Sunday, August 2 View Page Good thing I picked up the bigger knife! Sunday, August 2 View Page 828 Gonsoulin Stem too blossem cross cut. The pumpkin was taken from the vine at 70 days old. Most of the seeds in it were immature. I was able too find 14 seeds which seem too be mature. The seeds have white seed coats. I am currently working on getting the plant which grew this pumpkin cloned for future pollinations. Sunday, August 2 View Page I wish all my pumpkins had stem sides like this! Sunday, August 2 View Page 828 Gonsoulin (566 Van Hook x Open) Blossem side. This was the thinnest part of the pumpkin. Imagine if this was grown in ideal climate zone for 100 days... 566.5 Van Hook 2007 = 1407 Wolf x 1450 Wallace Sunday, September 20 View Page Got stung about a half inch too the side of my left eye by some kinda big black bee while workin in the patch. Picture was taken about 6 hours later. Left eye nearly swollen shut! The things we put up with just too grow some silly pumpkins!